University of Fashion Blog

Spot the best and worst construction details this awards season

Awards season is right around the corner in addition to red carpet gowns and inspiration galore. This year, as you select your best and worst dressed lists, we have an added challenge. Be on the lookout for construction details. This week we’ve launched an extension video to our video on Draping a Bustier Bodice. Take a look at the images in the header – whether it’s Allison Williams in Armani Privé or Halle Berry in Nina Ricci – what you see on the red carpet is the result intricate construction underneath.

Our newest lesson will teach you about the different types of closures and interfacings used to create the structure of a bustier. We will introduce you to the tools you will need to construct a bustier as well as how to stabilize the edges and how to bone, press and line your bustier. Once you have learned how to create the basic structure, imagine the possibilities and variations you can incorporate into your design repertoire.

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen

Whether your design aesthetic leans toward the modern (as in Emma Stone’s Lanvin jumpsuit featured above) or old Hollywood glamour (as in the Zac Posen gown worn by Reese Witherspoon), knowing how to construct a well-fitting bustier will provide the proper foundation for your designs.

Start by learning how to drape a bustier bodice (Did we mention this lesson is FREE?). Then watch our newest video featured above. Finally, watch the Golden Globes this Sunday, January 10th, and see how many bustier variations you can spot. Watch with a designer’s eye to identify where boning was placed and take an educated guess at the type of interfacing that helped to create the flawless looks on the red carpet. Consider our newest video a peek “behind the seams” of these gorgeous gowns – not to mention a road map for you to create your own!

Kara Laricks is a regular contributor to the University of Fashion. She’s also a New York based women's wear and accessories designer. As the first winner of NBC's Fashion Star, Kara has designed collections for H&M, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Her masculine meets feminine line, Kara Laricks, debuted at New York Fashion Week in 2012 and her S/S 2013 collection sold exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue. Kara's designs have been featured on the Today Show and HBO's True Blood as well as covered in Women's Wear Daily and on Style.com. Kara holds Master's degrees in both Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas and in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art in San Francisco. An educator turned designer, Kara is dedicated to supporting emerging designers and inspiring others to follow where dreams lead.

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